Local trails will be more accessible following Centre Wellington council’s approval of an influx of funds for trail improvements and enhancements.
In late October, Matt Tucker, manager of parks and facilities operations, spoke to members of council regarding local trail improvements.
Tucker said the community services capital budget currently has $50,000 set aside for neighbourhood interconnections and active transportation such as trails and sidewalk enhancements.
Enhancements include improving accessibility, installation of appropriate signs and creating loops to encourage active transportation and recreation.
Tucker said community services has been working with infrastructure and planning on moving forward on the best way to approach working collaboratively to identify and prioritize trail and sidewalk enhancements throughout the township.
He noted that along with the capital funds included in the Centre Wellington capital program for 2016, Wellington County has grant funding available for this type of program.
Tucker stated the county is prepared to provide funds to Centre Wellington on trail development so long as the project or projects are supported by a resolution of township council and by Wellington County’s planning committee.
The three projects being brought forward are the Trestle Bridge Trail, signs for seven active transportation loops and pathway surfacing through Tait Park in Fergus.
The upgrade to the Trestle Bridge Trail involves the establishment of a three-metre wide stone dust pathway (as per Centre Wellington Trails Master Plan specifications) that will stretch from South River Road (by the Trestle Bridge) to the Elora Works Yard.
The area from South River Road to Gilkison Street is county owned and the intent is to work with the county to ensure that this stretch of trail is more accessible for people to use.
At each road crossing drainage will be addressed and the trail will be paved three metres in length to better transition from the road to the stone dust pathway.
Proper signage including an address for emergency calls/locations will be installed.
The seven active transportation loops to be worked on are from the township’s Active Transportation Master Plan.
The proposal is to install signage along with markings on the roadways for these loops to ensure people can follow the trail loop with ease.
As part of this project the township would work with the county and the Grand River Conservation Authority as some of the loops are on their lands or roadways.
The plan also includes the creation of pamphlets as well as adding the information on the township website to let people find out how long the loops are and where they go.
The final pathway the township is looking at for funding is a pathway through Tait Park in Fergus.
This park is located on Tait Crescent and is a walkway for many students to access the high school
Currently, there is only a footpath through the park.
“We are looking at creating a fully accessible asphalt pathway through the park. As part of this project there will be a curb cut on Tait Crescent and the fence opening would be extended at the South side of the park,” said Tucker.
He added what council was being specifically asked is to approve work on the Trestle bridge and for the approved work to be done over time.
“It is our intent to identify those projects annually and bring them forward to council for approval,” he said.
Centre Wellington council subsequently requested the county, through its trails/active transportation grant 2016, to provide the funding for the Trestle Bridge Trail from Gilkison Street to South River Road.
